Ilam Art Deco with courtyard 7 min to UC

A 1930s art deco home in Ilam, sleeping six. When you arrive there is tea and coffee on the bench. The original blueprints are framed on the wall. The courtyard is visible from everywhere. Seven minutes from the University of Canterbury, ten minutes from the airport, four minutes from Church Corner. Stays of up to 90 days welcome. For longer, just ask.



What you will notice when you arrive

The code opens the lockbox. Inside, a sage green kettle on the bench. Proper biscuits. Tea and coffee ready. The original 1930s architectural blueprints framed on the wall, drawn up for Mr R.J. Spence at Hare Street. Still legible. Still there. The living room opens straight onto the courtyard. White cast-iron chairs with yellow and teal cushions on the tiled pavers. The etched art deco mirror on the wall. The gold chess set on the sideboard. An art deco dresser in the bedroom that has been there for decades. Plantation shutters with real weight. Good light without glare. Someone has thought about this place. Nothing is generic. Nothing is trying too hard. It just is.



The house

The living and dining open into each other. La-Z-Boy recliners, a proper dining table that seats six, kitchen visible from both. Heat pump keeps it warm in winter and cool through Canterbury summers. Plantation shutters throughout. The original 1930s curved render exterior, teal fascia trim and the inside it has been updated without losing any of that. The original architectural plans for the house are framed on the living room wall. Worth a look when you arrive.



The courtyard

This is where the day ends. Tiled, sheltered, sunny. The whole house opens onto it. The main bedroom has its own door out. The living room has its own door out. The ornate white cast-iron table and chairs with coloured cushions are there when you want them. Morning coffee. An afternoon read. An evening drink. It does all of it.



The kitchen

Everything you need to cook a proper meal. Oven, hob, dishwasher, full-size fridge, generous bench space, breakfast bar seating. The sage green kettle and matching toaster on the bench. Tea and coffee on the bench when you arrive, enough to get through the first evening without a supermarket run.



Outdoor space

Private tiled courtyard with raised planter beds, sheltered and sunny. Cast-iron table and chairs seat four. The whole house wraps around it and you are never far from outside.



Sleeping configuration

-Bedroom 1: Queen bed, ensuite bathroom, direct access to the courtyard

-Bedroom 2: Double bed, plantation shutters, quiet street outlook

-Bedroom 3: Two singles, configurable as a king on request





Bathrooms

-Ensuite: shower and toilet, private to the main bedroom

-Main bathroom: bathtub, separate shower, separate toilet area



Two bathrooms make mornings straightforward when six people are sharing a house.



What is included



-Fast fibre Wi-Fi — password on the fridge, reliable for video calls and streaming

-Heat pump — warm when you arrive, cool when you need it

-Internal access garage — leave the car here and walk, or use it as your base for day trips

-Additional off-street parking

-Washer and dryer in the laundry — unpack properly if you are staying a while

-Dishwasher — no arguments about whose turn it is

-TV with Netflix and the usual streaming apps — for when the day catches up with you

-Self check-in via lockbox — the code comes the day before, arrive when it suits you

-Gold chess set for the evenings when no one can agree on a film

-Etched art deco mirror and original art deco dresser

-Crisp linen and towels provided — nothing to pack

-Tea, coffee, milk and biscuits on arrival





Location

Cassa Deco sits in a quiet residential pocket of Ilam. One of Christchurch's most convenient addresses if you know the city, and one of the best-kept secrets if you do not.



University of Canterbury: 7 minutes by car. Families settling students in, visiting academics, and graduation groups use this as their natural base

Church Corner: 4 minutes by car, 16 minutes walk. Chinese, Moroccan grill, supermarket — everything without leaving the pocket

Christchurch Airport: 10 minutes. Useful if you are arriving late, leaving early, or using Christchurch as a gateway for South Island travel

Bush Inn Centre: 4 minutes, Burger Fuel, best bubble tea around, Back & White Cafe and Mall

United Sports Centre: 6 minutes. The natural base for families with kids in tournaments

Riccarton Park Racecourse: 7 minutes. Race days included

Riccarton Sunday Market: 7 minutes. One of Christchurch's best weekly markets, worth a morning

Westfield Riccarton: 12 minutes. Christchurch's largest mall

Riccarton House and Bush: 13 minutes. The last remnant of native lowland forest in Canterbury, with the historic homestead. Worth an hour of anyone's time

Hagley Park: 24 minutes by car





Practical information



Self check-in via lockbox. The code arrives the day before, arrive when it suits you

Check-in: 3pm / Check-out: 10am

Quiet hours: 10pm to 8am

No smoking on the property

Three steps up to the front entrance. Let us know if this is a consideration when you book

Stays of up to 90 days welcome. For longer, just ask

Book 7 nights or more and receive a reduced rate. Book 28 nights or more and receive further reduced pricing





Guest access

You have full access to the entire property. The lockbox is at the front door and the code arrives the day before check-in. Park in the internal garage or on the driveway. The courtyard is accessible directly from the main bedroom and the living room. The laundry is available for guest use throughout your stay.

Note: three steps up to the front entrance. Let us know if this is a consideration when you book.



Other details to note

The driveway is shared. Parking is available in the internal garage or directly outside the property. Please keep the left side of the driveway clear at all times to ensure access for neighbouring properties.



Interaction with guests

We give you the space to enjoy the home. If something needs sorting or you have questions, message through the platform and someone will get back to you promptly. We are available 8:30am to 10pm, seven days. For anything urgent outside those hours, call the number in the welcome pack and someone will pick up.

Before you arrive, ask about our complimentary Planit service. A real person helps you plan your time in Christchurch at no charge. Restaurant picks, day trips, what is on while you are here. Worth a conversation when you book.



What guests love

"The home was large and very comfortable, and all the spaces were well laid out and nicely furnished. The kitchen had everything we needed to cook at home. We stayed in most evenings watching movies with our daughter and the living room was comfortable with room for everyone. Close to the University so she could walk back and forth easily. Great stay, would highly recommend."

This is exactly how Cassa Deco works. A proper base for whatever brings you to Christchurch. Comfortable enough to stay in, well-positioned enough to use as a launching pad.



BookaHome

BookaHome has been managing Christchurch holiday homes for 14 years. We know the city, we know these properties, and we are contactable if anything needs sorting. Available 8:30am to 10pm, seven days. Message through the platform or call the number in the welcome pack. Outside those hours, call us for anything urgent and someone will pick up.

Complimentary Planit travel planning service included with your stay. A real person helps you plan your time in Christchurch at no charge. Restaurant picks, day trips, what is on while you are here, the best way to spend a free afternoon. Ask when you book.



Who this works well for



-Families visiting the University of Canterbury for settling students in, graduation visits, and orientation weekends

-Sports families attending United Sports Centre tournaments and Riccarton Park race days

-Visiting academics and research staff

-Business travellers wanting space and amenities over a hotel room

-Airport transits and South Island travellers using Christchurch as their base

-Guests relocating to Christchurch or between homes. The fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, and internal garage make longer stays genuinely comfortable

-Stays of up to 90 days welcome. For longer, just ask





Ready when you are

Check availability and book instantly. If you have questions about the property, longer stays, or want help planning your time in Christchurch, message us.